Zinnia, AKOYA Oxygen

Zinnia is a sub-community of the greater district of DAMAC Hills 2 (Akoya Oxygen). Zinnia Cluster offers large, modernly designed villas and townhouses for sale and rent. The neighbourhood is developed to offer tranquil, peaceful and secure living standards for those looking for a suburban lifestyle, but don’t want to be too far from the main city centre. In fact, residents can get to main Dubai City in 25 minutes via Umm Suqeim Freeway (D63). Using best practices in urban planning, this community was constructed from the ground up. The neighbourhood has a vast network of roads and separate pathways for cyclists. Properties here are equipped with the latest in energy-efficient equipment, which makes for cleaner and greener surroundings.

• A flagship development by DAMAC Properties
• Set to have its own community-specific shopping mall
• Surrounded by lush greenery and cascading waterfalls
• Home to its very own golf course designed by Tiger Woods
• Several varieties of restaurants and cafes surrounded by green fairways

Zinnia mostly appeals to families who are looking for a peaceful living environment, one that is as close to nature. Most properties are for sale, so it will attract various investors and those looking to buy their own homes.

Popular points of interest are:

• Large community pool surrounded by greenery
• Children’s water park with various slides and playhouse
• Parks for picnicking, walking and enjoying natural surroundings

There will also be a hydroponic cafe which will grow plants on-site using only water, residents will be able to enjoy the freshest and purest dishes at this cafe.

Properties in Zinnia include villas and townhouses for sale which come with a floor space ranging from 1,700 sq. ft. to 2,500 sq. ft. These villas will come with room configurations that include 3 to 6-bedrooms. Each property has a sizeable space dedicated to private gardening. The independent villas and townhouses consist of all the necessary amenities such as a spacious living area, a dining hall, a powder room, a modern kitchen and in some configurations even a maid’s accommodation on the ground floor. All bedrooms are ensuite with access to a private terrace while in larger villas, one bedroom is on the ground level to serve as a guest bedroom. Most villas and townhouses will come with a balcony or a terrace. Other features of these homes include double-glazed windows and dedicated storage rooms.

This is a master-planned community, which means that residents and visitors will never have to worry about finding viable and safe street parking spaces in Zinnia. Furthermore, each property has its private parking space which is sufficient for two cars.

The sub-community is linked by two major freeways, to the south, there is Jebel Ali Lehbab Road (E77). To the northeast, there is Dubai Al Ain Road (E66).

Nearly all bus stops near Zinnia are situated along Dubai Al Ain Road (E66). The nearest bus stops are Rawdah Poultry Farm 1 which is 18-minutes away via car. The other station which is the Rawdah Poultry Farm 2 station is 22-minutes away.

Since this is a suburb under development, it will take some time for community bus stops to be established. Until then, residents will have to rely on taxis or ride-hailing services to reach these bus stops.  Metro stations near Zinnia are at a distance of 40-minutes or more. These metro stations include Dubai Internet City Metro Station, Noor Bank Metro Station and Business Bay Metro Station.

Supermarkets near Zinnia include Carrefour in the Akoya Retail Centre. It takes about 3-minutes via car and about a 15-minute walk to reach there. New Mart Supermarket which is at a distance of 17-minutes. This is a standalone, medium-sized supermarket where one is likely to find a larger variety of foodstuffs and FMCG. There is also a Spinneys supermarket at a driving distance of 26-minutes. Other nearby supermarkets include All Day Minimart at 28-minutes away and Carrefour Market at 29-minutes away.

Mosques near Zinnia include DAMAC Hills 2 Masjid which serves as a community mosque for Akoya Oxygen residents. Other mosques nearby include Remraam Mosque, Global Village Mosque and Al Waha Masjid. All three mosques are large enough to accommodate large numbers of worshippers during Friday prayers.

Townies need to drive at least half an hour to reach the nearest church including The Winning Generation Gospel Assembly. It is located along Al Khail Road (E44). Other churches near Zinnia include some of the top churches in Dubai such as St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church and Dubai Mar Thoma Parish Church.

People belonging to the Sikh community can go to Guru Nanak Darbar, which is a Sikh gurudwara at a distance of about 25-minutes. Near the gurudwara is a Hindu Temple to facilitate the Hindu population living in the city.

Nurseries and schools are included in the development plans for the master community DAMAC Hills 2 (Akoya Oxygen). Since the plans are still under completion, there is only one nursery in the area facilitating the preschoolers called, Shining Stars Nursery Dubai. Nearby nursery options include:

• British Orchard Nursery
• Toddlers International Nursery
• Fantasy Town Nursery & Play lounge

Nearby primary and secondary schools include:

• Delhi Private School
• Ranches Primary School
• The Aquila School

Schools near Zinnia include Delhi Private School which is the closest to this sub-community, located at a distance of 9-minutes. This school was established in 2003 and has been serving a diverse expatriate population by delivering top-notch education delivered according to standards governed by the Central Board Of Secondary Education, New Delhi. Much further is Ranches Primary School which is 28-minutes away. Another school nearby is The Aquila School which can take 32-minutes to reach.

Nearby medical facilities include:

• Saudi German Clinics DAMAC Hills 2
• Aster Clinic
• Mediclinic Parkview Hospital
• Fakeeh University Hospital 
• Nad Al Sheba Health Center

At a drive of only 3-minutes, there is a branch of Saudi German Clinics in Akoya Community Centre. There are a few clinics near Zinnia, at a distance of 28-minutes residents will find Aster Clinic. Here residents can avail of medical services such as dental treatments and general medical consultations.

For comprehensive medical treatments, residents will find that there are several hospitals near Zinnia. The closest hospital is Mediclinic Parkview Hospital which is 37-minutes away. Another nearby hospital is Fakeeh University Hospital which will have state-of-the-art medical treatment facilities and tools, one can reach this hospital in 28-minutes. At a distance of 30-minutes, residents will find Nad Al Sheba Health Center.

Nearby residential areas include:

• Motor City
• Arabian Ranches
• Dubai South

To the north, residents will find the communities of Motor City which is a motor sports-themed suburb which is also home to Dubai autodrome. There is Arabian Ranches to the north, this is a villa-based community that has an Arabian-style architectural theme. Towards the east, there are no communities, but heading west, one will find the community of Dubai South. This area is also being developed from the ground up, it holds strategic importance as it is close to the Expo 2020 site and is right next to Al Maktoum International Airport.

Malls near Zinnia include:

• Dubai outlet mall
• Cityland Mall
• Village Community Mall

Dubai Outlet Mall is one of the closer malls residents can visit. It is a one-of-a-kind outlet mall, where one can shop from branded retailers at reduced prices. At a distance of about half an hour, there is Cityland Mall with over 75 restaurants and cafes, it also has 12 cinemas and over 350 retail outlets. Another nearby mall is the Village Community Mall which is also located at the same distance.

Popular stores inside Dubai Outlet Mall:

• Nautica
• Skechers
• Adidas factory outlet

Nautica is a U. S based brand that specializes in designer apparel, colognes, footwear and much more. Skechers mostly specializes in exclusive, casual footwear. The brand is most popular with fashion-conscious youth who want trendy-looking footwear that is also comfortable. Adidas factory outlet is considered to go-to store for sports enthusiasts and athletes, it is one of the few stores where one can buy authentic Adidas branded sportswear and footwear.

Restaurants inside Dubai Outlet Mall:

• Al Arrab Restaurant
• Chowking
• Little Manila

For those who love Arabic food, there is Al Arrab Restaurant which serves traditional Arabic street food such as falafel, shawarma and hummus. Chowking is a popular Asian restaurant with several branches across UAE, here one can find various varieties of Filipino, Indonesian, Malaysian and Chinese dishes. Little Manila is the place to enjoy a variety of traditional Pinoy food, making it a popular dining establishment amongst the Filipino community.

Restaurants near Zinnia include:

• Al Tawon Restaurant
• Chuck E Cheese’s
• Dough Me Nation
• Nay Oxygen Cafe & Restaurant
• Qasr Al Madina Restaurant & Cafe
• Shawarma Location

The nearest restaurants are the ones which are located within the Akoya Community Centre such as Shawarma Location, Nay Oxygen Cafe & Restaurant, Dough Me Nation and Qasr Al Madina Restaurant & Cafe. For a semi-formal dining experience, residents can visit Nay Oxygen Cafe & Restaurant. Here, the menu offerings are contemporary western-style dishes such as wraps, burgers, sandwiches and other related types of food. Al Tawon Restaurant is a casual dining eatery offering a variety of Indian and Pakistani food for budget-conscious diners. At a distance of 29-minutes, there is Chuck E Cheese’s which serves several variations of pizza that most cater to kids.

To reach beaches near Zinnia, one should expect a minimum drive time of 40-minutes. Being located in the southernmost area of Dubai, it is no surprise given these drive times. Accordingly, the most popular beaches nearby include Jumeirah Beach which is 46-minutes away. This beach has several amenities including playgrounds for children and BBQ stations for those looking to grill food while enjoying the ocean view. Also, 46-minutes away is Kite Beach which is a popular destination for those looking to enjoy water sports such as jet-skiing, wakeboarding and parasailing to name a few.

Nearby landmarks include:

• Dubai Miracle Garden
• Dubai Autodrome
• Al Marmoom Heritage Village

Within a driving distance of 37-minutes, there is Dubai Miracle Garden which is a vast flower park with life-sized and giant structures decorated with flowers and various types of fauna. Just 38-minutes away, there is Dubai Autodrome which large race track where visitors have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a high-performance vehicle and experience the true potential of a race car. At a distance of 21-minutes, there is Al Marmoom Heritage Village, where one can attend various events taking place between March and April, activities include camel racing, setups of traditional souks and various other types of festivals.

Residents can stay fit at:

• Central Park
• Eastland Park 
• Al Rashidiya Park

Parks near Zinnia include Central Park which is located at a distance of 23-minutes. Although this is a fairly small park, it has a variety of swings, slides and a playhouse where children can enjoy the outdoors and enjoy themselves. At a distance of 30-minutes, there is Eastland Park Motor City. This is a much larger park where children and teens can play football or cricket on the large grassy area. It also has a few gazebos where picnickers could enjoy their lunch without having to sun glaring down on them. Just slightly further away is Al Rashidiya Park at a distance of 32-minutes. This is a highly developed park that has several gazebos, it has a badminton court and several grassy areas.

Gyms near Zinnia include Fitness Edge in DAMAC Hills 2 and CK Fitness Gym, Both full-equipped gyms are located about 5-minute away.

Nearby salons and spas include:

• Le Vendôme Ladies Beauty Lounge
• The Corner Barber
• The Haven Spa and Beauty Salon
• NStyle Beauty Lounge

Le Vendôme Ladies Beauty Lounge and The Corner Barber are the nearest grooming centres at a drive of about 5-minutes. At a distance of 24-minutes, there is The Haven Spa and Beauty Salon. This is a full-service spa offering various types of massages and therapies. For women looking for a comprehensive beauty treatment, they could visit NStyle Beauty Lounge where they will find a wide range of hair, nail and skincare services.

Since this is a community in its infancy, there are community events yet to be organized by local residents.

Residents of Zinnia can network with others and catch up on the latest news on development projects taking place in the neighbourhood. The developer has a presence on Facebook with its official handle being @Akqdubai.

Zinnia is a very promising place to live and grow, it is especially appealing to investors who are looking for cheaper properties but have the potential to gain significant equity over time. Despite everything being far away, and the fact that one cannot live here practically without a car, the neighbourhood is poised to become a self-sustaining suburb with every convenience and amenities close by.

• Downtown Dubai is 40-minutes north
• Dubai International Airport is 41-minutes northeast
• Jebel Ali is 58-minutes northwest